Reflector for display cases



March 7, 1939. C, F. HQFFMAN I 2,149,768

REFLECTOR FOR DISPLAY CASES Filed Nov. 4, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l 2 v :F L2- l l l 1 IN V EN TOR.

/J ATToRN Mrch 7, 1939. HOFFMAN '2,149,758 l' REFLECTOR `FOR DISPLAYCASES Filed Nov. 4, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'El E*- Patented Mar. 7, 1939REFLECTOR FOR DISPLAY CASES Cyrus F. Hoffman, Trenton, N. J., assignerto C. V. Hill & Co., Inc., Trenton, N. J., a corporation of New JerseyApplication November 4, 1937, Serial No. 172,850

(c1. 24o- 6) ,v

6 Claims.

This invention relates to reflectors for display cases of that type inwhich a reflector is mounted at the upper portion of the front of a showcase for reflecting light downward and into the show ing flange ormember i2, and the arm 6 oi each bracket terminates at its lower end ina curved retaining or abutment portion I3 extending downwardly andrearwardly toward the panel 3. Be-

" 5 case through the front glass panel or panels tween its arms 5 and 6each bracket is further 5 thereof for eifectively displaying goodsstored formed with a strengthening web Iii. within the case. Theportions I2 and I3 of the brackets are The object of the invention is toprovide novel designed to support a removable reflector l5 means fordetachably mounting the reflector in which extends longitudinally at thetop of the position so that it may be readily and convenshow case abovethe top of the panel in such l0 iently removed to permit ready access tothe inmanner as to conceal the lamps and the supterior of the reflectorfor cleaning or other purporting brackets from view and to reflect theposes and to the illuminating lamps in order that light from the lampsdownwardly and into the burned out or defective lamps may be replacedshow case through the panels 3 thereof to effecwhenever required. tivelydisplay the goods therein. l5

The invention consists of the features of con- The reflector i5 may bemade of sheet metal struction, combination and arrangement of parts, orother suitable material and is generally chanhereinafter fully describedand claimed, reference nel shaped or oi arcuately curved form in crossbeing had to the accompanying drawings, in section. The outer or convexside of this reflector which:- may be suitably finished while theconcaved or 20 Fig. l is a front elevation of a display case emnner facethereof is preferably provided with a bodying a reflector mounted inaccordance with light absorbing paint or covering of any suitable myinvention. material I6. The upper and lower longitudinal Fig. 2 is anenlarged sectional view through edges of this reflector are providedwith inbent the reflector and part of the case broken, for flanges Iland I3 respectively. The upper por- 25 example, on line 2-2 of Fig. l,showing the retion of the reflector is designed to rest upon the ectorfastened in position. upper supporting ilanges or members I2 of the Fig.3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing the bracket and to be hookeddownwardly in engagereflector released for removal. ment therewith forthe purpose of supporting and Fig. 4 is a perspective View of asupporting retaining the upper portion of the reflector' I5 30 bracket.in position. The lower portion of the reflector is Fig. 5 is a similarView of a latch. properly curved to rest upon the lower retaining In theillustrated embodiment of the invention, DertOnS I3 Of the brackets andthe iangeS I3 herein disclosed for purposes of exemplication, are S0diSpOSed eS t0 DlOjeCt upwardly in reel' I represents the top and 2 thefront of a display thereof when the reflector is supported in position.35 case of conventional type provided at the front FgS- 1 and 2 ShOW thereflector I5 mounted in with one or more inclined or sloping glasspanposition 'upon the SliplOGlting bIeCketS, from els 3. In the presentinstance two such panels which it will be seen that the construction isare shown, disposed one in rear of the other in such that the reflectorwill be retained in posi- D spaced relation to providea dead air orinsulation tien fOr engegement 0f itS flange Il With the 40 spacetherebetween. bracket portions i2 and its bearing upon the Arranged atthe upper portion of the front of bracket portions' I 3, Wheleby,thfellgh the dethe show case, at proper intervals along the lengthscribed inclination of the brackets, the weight of the oase, aresupporting brackets e, each inof the reflector and the retainingengagement of .L5 cluding afastening arm 5 suitably secured at theDOltOilS I2 end Il Will nermelly Serve t0 hold 45 front of the top ofthe case, and a supporting the reflector in position against CeSlleldisplacearm s, tne1atter extending downwardly and forment. For thepurpose, however, 0f preventing war-dly from the arm 5 at a suitableangle conshifting of the refieCtOI 01" any FOSSibiiitY Of itS forminggenerally with the angle of inclination accidental disengagement fromthe brackets, each of the front panel 3. At the joint of junction ofbracket is preferably provided with a latch mem- 50 these arms 5 and Eeach bracket is provided with bei I9 fOr 4engagement With the flange I8to a shouldered portion l to support a channeled hold the reflectorfastenedin position. The latch conduit 8 and an upper small stationaryreiiecis provided with an arm 2e pivoted to the bracket, tor 9. Thechannel 8 or reector e is provided a manipulating arm 2l connected tothe bracket at suitable intervals with sockets lll to receive by aretaining Spring 22 and 2 le-tCh blade 0r 55 the illuminating lamps Ilwhich may be of any plate 23 having a rear retaining shoulder toensuitable type but are herein shown in the form gage the flange I8 anda curved or cam face 2li of ordinary incandescent lamp bulbs. to bearagainst the portion I3 of the bracket Each bracket is also formed at apoint between and to hold the lower portion of the reflector I5 itsportions 5 and I with a supporting or sustainin close bearing contacttherewith. Upon re- 60 leasing the latches, the lower portion of thereflector l5 may be swung outwardly and theY rellector then liftedupwardly to withdraw its flange Il from engagement with the bracketportions I2, allowing the reflector to be readily removed for cleaningor other purposes and to expose the brackets and parts carried therebyfor cleaning, repairs or the renewal of burned out or defective lamps ina ready and convenient manner.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings,the construction and mode of use of my improved reflector supportingmeans for display cases will be readily understood and its advantagesappreciated. While the structure shown is preferred it will, of course,be understood that changes in the form, details of construction andarrangement of the parts may be made, within the scope of the appendedclaims, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of theadvantages of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In means for connecting a detachable reflector to a display casehaving a front glass display panel, a bracket fastened at its upper endto the upper portion of the front of the display case above said panel,said bracket extending from its upper end downwardly in front of andsubstantially parallel with the panel and having at its upper end areflector suspending flange and at its lower end a reflector supportingportion, illuminating means carried by the bracket, a reflector disposedon the outer side of said bracket and having at its upper edge a llangeto engage the suspending flange of the bracket and at its lower edge abearing portion adapted to rest against said supporting portion at thelower end of the bracket, said bearing portion terminating in aretaining flange at the lower edge of the reflector, and a fasteningVdevice carried by the lower end of the bracket and engageable with saidsupporting portion of the bracket and retaining flange on the reflectorto clamp the bearing portion of the reflector against said supportingportion of the bracket.

2. In means for connecting a detachable reflector to a display casehaving a front glass display panel, a. bracket fastened at its upperendto the upper portion of the front of the display case above said panel,said bracket extending from its upper end downwardly in front of andsubstantially parallel with the panel and having at its upper end areflector suspending flange and at its lower end an arcuately curvedreflector supporting portion, illuminating means carried by the bracket,a concavo-convex reflector disposed on the outer side of said bracketand having at its upper edge a flange to engage the suspending flange ofthe bracket and at its lower edge an arcuately curved bearing portionadapted to rest against said arcuately curved supporting portion at thelower end of the bracket, said bearing portion terminating in aretaining ange at the lower edge of the reflector, and a fasteningdevice carried by the lower end of the bracket and engageable with saidsupporting portion of the bracket and retaining flange on the reflectorto Y clamp the bearing portion of the reflector against said supportingportion of the bracket.

3. In means for connecting a detachable reflector to a display casehaving a front glass display panel, a bracket fastened at its upper endto the upper portion of the front of the display case above said panel,saidY bracket extending from its upper end downwardly in front of andsubstantially parallel with the panel and having at its upper end areflector suspending flange and at its lower end a reflector supportingportion, illuminating means carried by the bracket, a reflector disposedon the outer side of said bracket and having at its upper edge allangeto engage the suspending flange of the bracket and at its lower edge abearing portion adapted to rest against said supporting portion at thelower end of the bracket, said bearing portion terminating in aretaining flange at the lower edge of the reflector, and a pivotallymounted spring actuated latch at the lower end of the bracket having acam face to engage the said curved supporting portion of the bracket anda shoulder to engage the retaining flange at the lower edge of thereflector to clamp the bearing portion of the reflector against saidsupporting portion of the bracket. Y

4. In means for-fastening a reflector to a display case, and incombination with a display case and a reflector having flanged upper andlower edges, and a curved bearing portion adjacent to its lower flangededge and forming with said flanged edge a keeper recess, supportingbrackets on the display case, each provided with an upper suspendingflange and a lower `curved supporting portion engageable respectively bythe upper flanged edge and lower bearing portion of the reflector, andfastening means carried by the lower portions of the brackets andmovable into the keeper recess, and having surfaces for engagement withthe ilanged lower edge of the reflector and supporting portion` of thebrackets to clamp the reflector against said portions of the brackets.

5. In means for connecting a detachable reflector to a. display case,spaced supporting brackets secured at their upper ends to the upperportion of the display case and depending therefrom in front of thedisplay case, said brackets having suspending portions at their upperends and supporting portions at their lower ends, a detachable reflectordetachably engaged at its upper edge with the suspending portions of thebrackets and in bearing engagement at its lower edge with the supportingportions of the brackets, and pivotally mounted latches carried by thesupporting portions of the brackets and having surfaces for clampingengagement respectively,7 with the low- 4 er edge of the reflector andthe supporting portions of the brackets to clamp the former to thelatter;

6. In means for detachably connecting a reflector with lamp supportingbrackets on a display case, brackets secured at their upper ends to theupper portion of the display case and depending therefrom in front ofthe display case, said brackets being provided with flange-likesuspending portions at their upper ends and curved supporting portionsat their lower ends, illuminating means carried by the brackets, areflector having a flanged upper edge for engagement with saidflange-like suspending portions of the brackets and a curved bearingportion adjacent its lower edge to bear upon the supporting portion ofthe brackets, said lower edge of the reflector terminating in Vanupturned flange, and pivoted latches on the Vsupporting portions of thebrackets having clamping shoulders engageable with the lower flangededge of the reflector, and cam surfaces engaging with the supportingsurfaces of the brackets for clamping the reflector thereto.

CYRUS F. HOFFMAN.

